September in Corona

9/12/11

Hey, Everything is going well here! This week was really good! We had a sweet talk by this Returned Missionary. He spoke on testimony and he covered all the bases it was really good! I hope that my homecoming talk is that good! It got me dang close to tears. I like feeling the Spirit that strong when I can cry. I think it’s a healthy thing to cry, ya know?

But other than that I have just been working hard trying to not kill my companion and to keep my district working strong! This week I also had the opportunity to go on some exchanges with some other missionaries and it was good! I love helping and learning from others. It’s a great thing. I think that's what the mission is all about; helping others come closer to Christ and then, as you do so, you automatically grow closer as well! :) Such a wonderful plan that the Lord has for us, and such a great thing to have.

I love serving the mission and I love being able to help others. Lately I have noticed that I need to work on charity being more loving to others because sometimes I have short patience with others but at the same time I have found myself being more charitable helping out other missionaries. Elder Kozub needed some shoes. His old shoes were all torn up, like they probably cost like 20 bucks. They were some Sketchers or something. And I was like, "Bro, do you have any other shoes, or like some polish or something those shoes are jacked!" And he said he didn’t have anything else. So I just gave him mine. I had two pair and one pair I didn’t wear as often just on like Sundays and Tuesdays when we have meetings so I just gave them to him. He needs them and he does have a pretty rough story. He is a convert to the Church, his mom had her record removed. His brothers that converted with him are either anti or just don’t care anymore and the only support he has on a mission is the tiny little branch where he lives in Ohio. Sorry for the big long story.

Needless to say, I am doing well and I am super happy in the service of the
Lord!

I Love you! Have a good week thanks for all of your support and love and everything you do.

Love, Elder McNew

9/19/11

This week was good :) Pretty busy, we had a General Authority come and talk to us today.  We decided this Saturday to take out our bikes for once just to save some miles on the Corolla and it's good for contacting people on the streets. Man, I realized how much I miss bike when I actually got out and rode! It was fun.  I was riding wheelies and jumping around and stuff.  Elder Kozub has a hard time on the bike because remember that he came to a car area because he crashed and messed up his back.  Also, this Sunday after church from 4-9 we taught lesson after lesson totaling to 5 lessons in one day which is good especially since we started teaching at 4. All in all I'm doing great :)

Kyle gets baptized!

8/29/11

Hey! What's up?

So, this week went pretty well! We tracted for about 8 hours, taught a few lessons, and it got up to about 110 degrees! Dang! And, we had a baptism! Kyle is now a member of the Church as of Sunday! It's so awesome and such a blessing to people! Lives change right in front of you! It's amazing to see the Lord work through you!

So, as part if my responsibilities as District Leader is to give a training every week. This week I gave a pretty sweet training that I got from Elder Proffit (my trainer) It's all about making your mission an adventure, working hard, and having fun while you serve. So that was pretty sick! I wish I could have a copy of it or something but it's all good.
I'm doing pretty well! Just working hard and trying my best to serve the Lord with all my might. It does get hard sometimes but the Lord is always there to help us. He's like a light. I found this sweet scripture earlier this week about the Jaredites and how they used a stone that the Lord touched as a light to help them through the dark times, if applied.

I love you all!
Have a good week ttyl!
Love, Elder McNew!

District Leader

8/22/11

What's up? So guess what? I have some pretty cool news to tell you!

First I want you to know that I'm staying in Corona for another 6 weeks.

So this week was pretty sweet! We've been working super hard and teaching lots of lessons. Not so much tracting but thats okay because lessons are better in my opinion. We received two rewards for our hard work. First, our ward mission leader took us to Chili's so that was cool. Kyle is getting baptized on Saturday! Yay! I'm so happy for him, he is such a bomb investigator! I'm going to be here in corona still so I get to attend and everything.

Other than that I wanted to just tell you what the results of transfer calls brought. Well, obviously Elder Fly is returning home to Virginia so that was not a shock because he has served his time and has been a great companion to me :) I'm proud of him for working hard till the end.

The next news is that well... I will be continuing to step-daddy Elder Kozub, the one that hurt his back. He is my new official companion. So I ask to all of you to please pray for me that I don't kill this kid. I'm going to need some patience. But, I know that the Lord kept me with him for a reason . It's all good, I do love him he is just different from me.

The next cool news, and last but not least, is that I got called as the new District Leader over my district! I didn't think it would happen so soon but here it is. I guess the Lord knows me well and can see more of my future than I can. That's all for now!

I am excited to continue serving here in Corona to further the work of the Lord in this area! I love the mission and man is it flying by. The awesome experiences never cease to come.

Well I love you all and continue to pray for you. Have a wonderful week and God bless!

Love, Elder McNew

August in Coronoa

8/1/11
So for this week just a little update. Elder Kozub, my third companion, hurt his back. So, he called the doctor and told him all about his pain. We are now stuck in the apartment because he's on bed rest. I'm a little upset about it because I could be doing missionary work but instead I just sit around the apartment just trying to figure out what to do with myself. But, the good news is that we have people and a great ward mission leader that do what they can to help as far as team ups and stuff go. So that's good. Also, Kozub's appointment is on Wednesday so hopefully we get everything all squared away so that we can do missionary work again. Other than that, I am doing well. I figured out how to play the ukulele this week.
That's all for now!
Elder McNew

8/8/11

Hey :) I'm doing really good this week! All is well.
As far as me and my companions go well... good news! We got back to work! We went to the doctor's office on Wednesday. They took some x-rays and whatever else and figured out that he just pulled some muscle or something :) So we got back to work that day and haven't stopped since. So its kinda nice because I am the one who knows the area best and I'm staying here. Kozub has only been here for a few weeks and Elder Fly is going home in two weeks so I'm the boss! I am the driver and I crack the whip when it needs crackin! :) it makes me feel good to know that I can have a handle on things. I have been on my mission just long enough to where I have everything down and I don't really worry anymore. I mean, I still have to prepare and be prepared to teach lessons work hard and everything. Anyway, so the work moves on! I'm doing great and so are my companions.

We had a Zone Development Meeting this week and we have a new Zone focus. One of the action plans is to work with the ward members to get referrals for new investigators. So this week we have a goal of teaching at least 10 WMP's (Ward Mission Process Lessons). We go to active members and then to ask them for referals and so we are super pumped for that!

So anyway pray for our success :) Thank you all for all of your support :) Love you!

Have a great week!
Love, Elder McNew

8/15/11

What's up?

So this week was great! We worked hard and had some pretty good success. We taught 14 lessons this week which is a lot for us here in Corona! And, guess what? Our investigator Kyle Meyer is getting baptized! :) Oh yeah! I'm so excited he has been prepared! Ever since we started teaching him he has just been a bomb investigator. He keeps commitments does whatever we ask him to. We were at his girlfriend's house teaching him this week and we taught a lesson on prayer and we all went around the room and shared our thoughts after reading 2 Nephi 32. It was really good, and then I stopped and said, "I have a question, So Kyle, I know that we have asked you to pray about the Book of Mormon and the things we have been teaching you." "Do you feel like you have recieved and answer?"
He said, "YES" "So, like you know its true?"
"YES!!!"
"So you prayed about it and got an answer?"
"YES!"
"Wow, Do you want to tell us about this?"
"No"
Anyway, to make a long story short, and after some thought, I said to Kyle, "You cried didn't you?"
"yeah"
It's wonderful to see him progressing and I'm so proud of him.
I remember when I first read and prayed about the Book of Mormon when I recieved my answer. I cried like a baby. So I guess I just want to end with my testimony.
I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, that he does hear and answer our prayers. I also know that the Lord answers our prayers in unexpected ways sometimes and in his own time. He does indeed love and hear us and I know this to be true with all of my heart! I love this gospel! I love Jesus Christ because he paid the price for our sins so that we can be happy and live eternally. I love sharing the gospel and meeting new people. This is my testimony, well, at least part of it, and of these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Elder McNew.
Have a good week!